Gorge Magazine's Top College List (Lore Post)

Every year since 1977, Gorge Magazine has published the most definitive and informative ranking of American universities and colleges. Year after year, this publication strives to showcase and highlight schools who not only uphold high academic rigor, but also produce well-rounded and happy graduates. Other statistics contribute to the annual ranking, such as cost of education, graduation rates, and overall student satisfaction.

For the second year in a row, Swiss Meringue University of Technology has ranked number one on our list for excelling in all of our ranking criteria. This year, northeastern institutions dominate , with only one California-based institute in the top five. This is an interesting change from last year, where California institutions reigned supreme. Read about our top five institutions below.

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1. Swiss Meringue University of Technology

• Location: Dutch Baby, Virginia
• School Type: Private not-for-profit
• Average Grant Aid: $55,287
• Total Annual Cost: $71,387
• Average Alumni Salary: $182,200
• Acceptance Rate: 6%
• Student Population: 16,092
  
  
  This institution attracts the sharpest, most capable young minds to the quiet mountains of Dutch Baby, Virginia. Known for it’s notable tech-mogul alumni such as PopMe founder Francis Dregg, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Margaret Doherty, and CandyCloud innovator, Helena Mikalson. This institution tops our list for the second year in a row, due to its rigorous standards for research and its student’s healthy pursuit of scientific discovery.

2. New Ambrosia University

• Location: New Ambrosia, New York
• School Type: Private not-for-profit
• Average Grant Aid: $27,668
• Total Annual Cost: $77,387
• Average Alumni Salary: $201,900
• Acceptance Rate: 10%
• Student Population: 60,110
  
  
  Located in one of the capitals of the world, NAU is the largest university on our list. With over 280 areas of study, NAU graduates are not only diverse as they are knowledgeable in their specific fields. Though the university’s programs are academically rigorous, it is often said that a degree from NAU comes included with 10 jobs, 20 colleagues and endless opportunities. Students with a degree from NAU are the most job-secure among the others in this list.

3. University of California, Huckleberry

• Location: Huckleberry, California
• School Type: Public
• Average Grant Aid: $16,846
• Total Annual Cost: $69,420
• Average Alumni Salary: $159,200
• Acceptance Rate: 16%
• Student Population: 32,204
  
  
  Easily considered the top public universities in the country, UC Huckleberry is the epicenter for environmental and social change. Huckleberry is renowned for it’s hand in the creation of solar panels, record-breaking conservation efforts and the optimization of plastics recycling. Despite it’s reputation for having some of the most “laid-back” students on this list, UC Huckleberry produces informed, passionate students that fight to create a better world, day by day.

4. East Pear College

• Location: East Pear, Massachusetts
• School Type: Private not-for-profit
• Average Grant Aid: $53,544
• Total Annual Cost: $79,981
• Average Alumni Salary: $171,500
• Acceptance Rate: 4%
• Student Population: 2,404
  
  
  Tucked away in the snowy, rural town of East Pear lies the nation’s oldest institution. Though it has slipped from it’s usual number one spot in recent years, East Pear proves to be one of the most prestigious and elite colleges in the country. It is notoriously hard to be accepted onto it’s state-of-the-art campus, but once students are accepted they gain access to one of the most well-funded and expensive learning environments in the world. Eighteen US Presidents graduated from this college, along with countless other politicians and world leaders. If you or your prospective student are interested in policy-making, diplomacy or the like, East Pear may be for you!

5. Sugardale University

• Location: Sugardale, New Hampshire
• School Type: Private not-for-profit
• Average Grant Aid: $49,731
• Total Annual Cost: $53,889
• Average Alumni Salary: $146,100
• Acceptance Rate: 18%
• Student Population: 11,872
  
  
  Sugardale University’s presence in the top five of this list may come as a surprise to many. Throughout the years it has staunchly stayed in the top twenty, but this mid-sized liberal arts college has really made it’s mark this year. With rigorous academics, comes a large array of impactful student-run clubs. Over the years, Gorge has followed as it’s Science Society has made ground-breaking discoveries, Investment Club has provided students a head-start in their Investment portfolios and the Arts Association has produced top artists-in-residence. It’s hard to deny the combination of rigorous academics and impactful extracurriculars produce some of the most well-rounded and adjusted students in the country.